Rolling mill connecter



DCC 25, 1934 w. 1 DlTGs ROLLING MILL CONNECTER Filed Nov. 17, 1951 2 Sheets--Shee'i'l 1 Dec. 25, 1934. W, DITGES 1,985,405

ROLLING MILL CONNECTER Filed Nov. 1v, 193i 2 sheets-sheet 2 im rllll I PatentedDec. 25, 1934 y '5- UNITED' 'STATES PATENT OFFICE" l .l l 'y `ROLLINGv y i I i K William L. Ditges," Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor-to Mackintosh-Hemphill Company, a corporation ,of Delaware v Y. Application November 17,1931, Serial No. l575,499 25 Clainris..V (Cl. (i4-91) y This invention pertains to rolling mills, 'and Figure 1 is a side view lin elevation of apremore particularly, to an improved formof disferred form of. my invention, showing it in a engaging'connection betweendriving and driven mounted position; f members thereof. f Fig. 2 is a top plan View of Fig; 1;

Previous to the'present invention,v there have Fig. 3 is an end section taken along the line 5 been different vtypes of mechanisms for the pur- III-III ofA Fig. 1; j a pose 'of connecting andv disconnecting millspiny Fig. 4 is a side section taken betweenthe lines dles from their driving Vpinions and from. the IV--IVof Fig. 2;v v f associated rolls driven thereby. n Fig. 5 is a view o the feature of Figo` 3, but' One Atype of mechanism `makes provision for shows a top instead of aside section and is taken l0 assembly and disassembly by moving the spindle along line V-V of Fig. 4;

and `its carrier; another typemaintains the spin`rr Fig. 6 is a top view of a section taken between dle carrier in a stationary relation, and the jourlines Vil-TVIV ofFig. 2;

naled portion of the spindle is moved'backand Fig. 7 is an end sectional-view taken along the forth within itsbearing.v 1 line VII-VII Of'Fg. 6; 15

Y, The first type is disadvantageous, in `that the Fig; 8 is a side view partiallyinsection and is spindle carrier is necessarily a large. andiheavy taken along line VIII-I-VIIIof Fig. 6; and y casting, and thus renders the construction of an Fig. 9 is a side center section taken along line efficient operating slideandassociated mecha- IX--Il-Xr of Fig. 6. -f f j nism quite cumbersome. The second 'typere- `AThe specii'lc embodimentv of my invention 20 guires a spindle havnga journal surface ofaabout chosen for the purpose'of illustration includes a twice the ordinary width; and,`a shoulderwill be spindle 30, at one end coupledor secured by a formed by the continual'rotation inone position, universal jointto a roll neck 11 and at the other and more readily so, due to the presence of dirt, end coupled or secured to driving pinions 21.

grit, scale, and the like; 'aside from this, the shoul- The spindle 30v includes female or mouthy uni- 25 der hinders easy passage of the spindle through versal joint portions 31 of enlarged diameter at the bearing. v each end thereof'for connecting up with the male For these reasons, I'have endeavored to' devise universal joint portions 11 and 21 of a driving pinan improved form of connection which will have ion unit 20 and a Vdriven roll unit 10. the advantages `of the previouslydevised types Near its substantial center, the spindle has been 30 and will eliminate their disadvantages. w 'provided witliajournal portion 33,havingasome An object of vmy invention has been to'devise what larger diameter than the adjacent portions an improved form of spindle shifting mechanism 32 of the spindle; the portion 33 is provided with of simplified construction. annular guide ridges 34 at each end thereof and I 35 And, it has been another object of myinvena vcentral seat'p'ortion 35 having a lesser diame- 35 tion to devise a spindle shifting vmechanism -terthan the ridges. These provisions have been whereby the bearing shell remains stationary with made particularly to facilitate longitudinal moverespect to the associated journaled portion ofthe ment of the spindle. spindle. f -r For rotatably supporting or journaling the porn Another object of myfinvention has beenfthe tion 33, a bearing box unit or container, desig- 40 provision of a spindle vslide mechanism whereby nated in its entirety by 40, is provided. 1n order the bearingsupport remains `station`ary Y, to securelyposition the unit 40, the oppositely A further object ofthe present invention has facing ends of the mill housing 10 and the pinbeen to devise a driving spindle for rolling' mills :ion housing 20v are each provided with al pair of that is slidable with its associated bearing Within spaced, upwardly-open, slotted, supporting'brack- `45 the bearing support. ets 13 and 23 in which the extending ends of two,

A still further ob-ject has been to'provide a spinparallel and oppositely-spacedbridging-beams or die slide mechanism having longevity ofy parts, members 14 are adapted to rest (see Figs. 1 and that is positive in operation, easy of manipula- 2). That is, the bridging members 14 are distion, sensitive and efficient in action, and 'simple posed to extend from opposite ends of the respec- 50 in design and construction. f tive housings 10 and-'20vand to rigidly support .the

These and many other objects will appear to bearing box unit 40vtherebetween.

those skilled in the art from the following de- The bearing supporting box unit or container scription taken in conjunction with'the accom- 40 which is supported vbyl the bridging members panying drawings, in which: .f l1'4, and in turn, which supports the spindle 30 at 55 secured thereto., .l ,to connect .the-driving. unit 70 with the tertiary the journaled portion 33 thereof, is designed to slide within itself in order that it may be employed for connecting and disconnecting the spindle from the associated driving member 20 and/ or driven member 10 (see Figs. 6 and '7) it includes primary, secondary, and tertiary members. The primary or transversely extending guideway supporting member- 41 isf'at eachendA securely and non-slidably ,mounted ,on and suspended between the bridging members 14 by downwardly bent iianges 47 and by small stops or wedges 15 that may be welded or in any other suitable manner secured in position (see Figs. 2 and 6) Asv shown, the primary member 41,isNSomevvhat` centrally grooved, slotted or cut out to suitablyreoeive the secondary and tertiary members.

The secondary, guideway on slide supporting member 45 is somewhat i'esiliently suspended or held in transverse position with respecttoy the spindleA by suitable springbolts 49 at one endex- `tending 'throughand Ibelow outwardlyeproj ecting --oppositely-'di'sposedf lips 47h and` at'the'other end, supported within oppositely disposed, longitudinally extendiii'gfclamps"orl positioning bars 50. It! willlbenoted' that ftheprimaryf member 41 is provided with slotted out steps! orfdepressions 47C IC's'ee Fig. 'JB-).grtof floos'ely @receive v'andsupport the opposite ends of each clamp or bar 50""therein` and preventexc'ess slidethereoffwithinthe plane of 'the' primary member: =f Of course the nuts. of bolts 49 may be tightened andloosened as desired to -adjustthetensionof--the springs, and thus, to adjust the relative positioningibetween the primary fmembe'r* 41" and the' secondary member45.

The above mentioned resilientf suspension teature' ofth'ersecondary member 45,1*not only permits al'itomatic` adjustment for-wear, but also prejvents any1'.binding."Soil theftertiary sleeve slide, and/or journal member 43. In order' that the 1tertiary`member43 maySl-ide within `the secondary member 45,=or'vicei'versa', :they arefprovided `with somewhatcentralportionsA ('see'Fi'g. 'D of U- shaped, trough-like, y'on complementary concave outline; :Whose :inclined: lsurfaces are` somewhat complementarily slotted lforcut' out; and',r the lower', v flat, `'supporting face 4of the secondary member 45-is1slottedto receive a. longitudinally extending bearing. strip 46; therein;` The-1 tertiary member 43has-'an ordinary form of journal cap I42rvrigdly secured thereto by'suitable demountable.A bolts 44;` bothr the capa and1member' are, of

course., suitablyh babbitted.y

fl 'As 'shown in the drawingsr,:the; secondary member abutsfor immediately receives portion of the voutersurface or periphery ofthe tertiary member. and' both thefprimar-y and secondary members may extend .substantially-A coz-ax-ially 2a-long; the longitudinal (or working) axis of the spindle' and lie .withinfor between the'longitudinal and trans- .,verse pla-nes of= such spindleqmember. But,.my inaventioni is not limited lto the exact specific locations,I above-enumerated, particularly, fthoseulast A sshown in andv 6, the-'spindle 30 .andits associated journal-or tertiarymember 43 are; adapted to slide as a unit-within the slide 'supporting orfsecondary member I45. In order to any suitable form of slide ders '7l and '72, afpiston flyandfacross-head 74 Alever; mechanism is employed .o1-slide i member; 43,4. .-.i-'t includes; a connecting rod 66 pivoted at one end to the cross-head 74 and at the other end by a pin 63 to a lever 64 keyed to a shaft 64a, two mounting stands 65 journaling each end of the shaft 64e, a plurality of levers 64 disposed in spaced relation along the shaft 649L and keyed thereto, oppositely disposed connecting rods pivoted at one end by pins 62 to ther levers 6.4 and pivotally secured? at the other end,61,'to the-tertiary member' or slide 43.

To allow the spindle or connecting member 30 to be slid into and out of engagement with the driven member 11, the universal joints 15 have a `special construction (see Figs. 1 5). The male tongues 11i and21 each have a slotted center portion 12 and 22 that. receives a mounting bolt 16 removably positioned to extend through opposite` legs of the mouth 31 of the spindle 30, and also receives a sliding shank sleeve 17 in which the bolt 16 is held. The length of slots l2 and 22 in the tongues, is!I enough to allow the necessary sliding clearance, taken separatelyand in conjunction withthe universaljoint 1'5 at the other end of the spindle 30.

It will thus bev seen that the connecting rod 66. oscillates the shaft 6.4a through the lever 64, which. inzturn oscillates the; shaft 64a, the' levers 64"', and connecting: rods 60. The movement of the latter will push and/or pull. the tertiary or slide member 43 along the secondary or slide supporting member 45 andV thus, the spindle 30,

its journaled portion 33', andthe associated journal or slide member 43 are moved as a unit withinthe support member 45 andare changed` as to their longitudinal positioning with respect to the associatedl driving` unit 20 and driven unit 10. Asa result, the' mounting bolts 16` of the mouth 31 slide within the slots 1'2 and 22 of the tongues 11 and 21, until the necessary clearance is accomplished'..

Although, forv the purposes of illustration, I have found it advisable to show only a single bearing unit 40, yet, the number may be increased to the number of' spindles inv line when found advisable. That is, a plurality of units 40 may bemounted in spacedk relation along the bridging members 14 and may be operative through suitable lever mechanisms from either stand A10 or 20, or from an independent stand or the' like. Nor is my invention limited to the peculiar form of supportingv structure shown, as in some cases it may be advantageous to support the bearing unit 40'on the floor of the mill, or on a special bed plate; the slide motivating mechanism may likewise be mounted in any suitable location. Such mentioned changes as well as many others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. o

While I have described but one embodiment ,of my invention, it will be apparent that many changes, modifications, substitutions, additions, and omissions, or combinations thereof may be ,'madein this device Without departing from the ing and driven members, an intermediate mem- P ber connecting said driving and driven members, a. unit for moving said. intermediate member with `respect tosaid driving and driven members, said unit including a bearing portion journalled to said intermediate portion, and an adjacent abutting portion, said bearing' portion being movably supported withinsaidabutting portionf:531'-l` `r 2. In ka-coupling layout'havin'g a member 'releasable by a? slide `with-respect"4 t'lou'a'nl adjacent member, of a unit-fori supporting l'saidy member, said unit including a sleeve journaled to 'said member, and an 'ad'jacentfcarrier slidably'abutting' and immediatelyreceivingsaid sleeve,'"an`d means cooperating: withsaid sleeve for sliding said sleeve and saidreleasable-member with respect to said carrier. A 3. A'rolli'ng mill havingfin combination driving and driven members, a 'spindle having slidable couplings for connecting upsaidl driving and driven members, said spindle having abearing portion, a journal member-having an -upperan'd lower half, a slide vsupport 1-member,fsaid-lower half having an outer 'face disposed to slidevwith'- in lsaid vslide support- "member, and 'rneans lfor moving said bearing memberwithin ,sai'd'slide support `memben f sov I that l said I' spindle "may vbe readily disconnected drivenmembe'rs'.

4.- A rolling] mill having" in combination Vdriving and driven membersfa spindle havingf'slide coupling means forconn'ecting"said'driving and driven members, v at rrleastV onef container ymeans journaled to said-spindle, said container means including therein asli'demembe'r having a bearing contact surface and a Vsli/de support'member having a slide 'contact surface, and means pivotally securedto said slide member for actuatf 5r.V A rolling mill'having; in combination driving and driven members@ spindle having slidable couplings for connectingsaid members, said spindie vhaaffing a bearing portion, and means jour'- naled thereon, the lower half of said means having alconvex outline and being disposed to slide Within e, Suitable Supportiflsmember, and cpel'r.- atingmeans pivotally `secured to said journaled means for actuating it, so ythat said spindle may be readily disconnected.` 'from saiddriving and driven members. f P i c 6. A rolling mill having incombinationdriving and driven members, a spindle having'a female slide coupimg at either vend"thereon said driving .and driven memberslhaving' afmale coupling, at

one endjthereof for cooperating withwthe female coupling of said spindle adjacent thereto,l said spindle having ajournal portion of a'larger diameter than the normal portions thereof, and a bearing box journaling saidspindle, said box including a 'slide membervanda supporting portion therefor, Asaid slide member 'having a' bearing surface in rcontact withV the journaledN portionfof said spindle, the lower face of said bearingmem'- ber `having a trough-like'form and being adapted to slide within its lsaid supporting portion, so that said spindle may be Aconnected and disconnected from said drivingfand driven members without changing the positions of the latter:

'7. A rolling mill having in combination driving and driven members, an intermediate member having a movable couplingl for connecting said driving and driven members; a j ournal member supporting said intermediate member betweensaid driving and driven members, a carrier member slidably supporting and abutting said journal member` adjacentthe outersurface thereof, and means forresilientlyV supporting said carrier member. 7

8. A milll having in driven members, and an intermediate member slidably connecting said driving and driven memand: a 'portion resil from said driving yand/or between said ldriving embiaationdriving :maY

berm-land vmeans-for sliding saidintermediate member with respect to said driven and driving members fordisconnecting them, said means including a' portion kjournaling said intermediate member, and a resiliently mounted 'portion sup- `porting .said journaling portion, said` journalling portion being slidable in the direction ofthe major axis of said intermediate member Within saidresiliently mounted portion.

9; A mill having in combination driven-members, an intermediate member 'slidablycoupling said driving vand driven, members together, and means for sliding said intermedilate"`member with respectl to said driving and driven' members and disconnecting Vsaid intermediate member therefrom, saidmeans including a portion" mounted on said intermediate member, A iently and slidably supporting said first-mentioned portion.

10,.,In a coupling layout having'driving and 'drivenfmembe'ra and an intermediatev member for lconnecting said driving and driven members, the combination Yof a unitfor moving said inter- 4mediatemember with respect to said driving'and 'driven"members, saidunitfincluding a member journallingl said vinterrnediate member, rand a troughlshaped memberV slidablyA receivingA said journa'lling member, said journalling vandtr'oughshaped membersy having `complementary slottedout portions termin ting *in a bottom'portion,

and a" bearing insert mounted in one of the bot- 'OIIIKPQYOIS for cooperating with thedothevrhbot: tom portion. o ,o d

LA rollingv mill having in' combination-driving and`r driven members andsuitablevhousings therefor, a spindle member connecting said driving and driven members, and bridgingH members disposed to extend across from and'between and abovethe floor level of the housings of said driving and driven members, means mounted on said bridging means for rotatably, and along the major axis thereof, slidablyv` supporting` said spindle member therein,and means for sliding said lastmenticmed means, so that said spindle may be disconnected from one of the above-mentioned members.l l n 12. A rolling mill having in combinationdriving, and drivenmembers and suitablel housings therefona spindle member connecting said drivi ingV and driven members, and bridging members disposed `between and above the floor level of the housings of said driving and driven'members and rotatably and slidably supporting said spindle member ,thereinmeans for slidingv said spindle member which includes a Adrivingunlt mounted on one ofthe above-mentioned housings, an operating shaft, a connecting rod directlyconnected y v unit vand said operating shaft, and afplurality "of -spaced and oppositely positioned connecting rods'at one end'mounted onsaid operating shaft' and at the other -end f cooperatively associated with said `bridging members. f.

v 13.Y A rollingmill having in combination drivingj and driven therefor, a rsp'indlehaving slidable couplings for connecting up said driving and driven members, said spindle having a journaled portion, bridging members disposed'between the respective housings of said driving and driven members, a bearing box secured between said bridging membersand having a contact portion rotatably positioned upon the journal portion of said spindle,- said contact portion"`being -sli'dable within another portion ofsaid bearing box, so that said'spindle driving andv members VA`and j suitable housings Lio may" be readily7 disconnected trom said driving: or driyen members,k A- l.;

le.. A. rolling mill having i.combinationdriv ing and vdriven members. .and suitable: housings therefor, bridging members; disposed. to extend between slotted brackets. extending irom the. opposite ends; of the housings or said vrespective driving and driven members, aspindle'member provided with suitable, couplings for connecting Said driving and driven members, means supportinssaid spindle having slidable andv nen-slidable members, said slidable; member including a; bearing .contact surface .fior journaling said. spindle, said .non-slidable member being. agslide supporting rIn releer and being risidlvzseeured between, said. bridging members.: f1 1:15.` A rolling; nnllihavins in. eembinaiienidriv.-

me: and .driven-.members and rebellious-riss therefor, a spindle providedgwi-t slide couplings fnvcenneetine said driving. end driveni members, said spindle vhaving-a vbearing portion-bridging members disposed to extend betweenandfabove the floor level; of the :respective *housingsf of v said driving` and driven members, saidV members being provided with@k ierrnalire member-fer .supresiigngythe bea g; portion of sa-idspindle; therein, said journaling member including por-tions Vone of which is .slidable With respecttothe. other and means for actuating.. the slideportion fof. said journaling member, S0 that `saidA spindle may;` be readily disconnected from one of; said members. 16. In a coupling layout, .theI combination @of driving and driven members, an intermediate member slidablyy connectingsaid `driving fand driven members, and meansyfor sliding said intermediate member with respeet to.. said ,driving and driven members; lsaid ymeans including a member mounted onsaidintermediate member, a member slidablysupporting saidfirst-mentioned memben; and a member looselyreceiving saidsecond-mentionedmember.

117'.` In a coupling layout, the combination .of driving and driven members, L' an intermediate member connecting said driving andv drivennieme bers, and means for sliding said intermediate member with respect to said driving and driven members; `said-meansincluding` a portion journa-led to said-intermediatemember, af'secojnd portion; slidablyf supporting saidj ournaled portion, and' a third portion resiliently supporting. said second portion. g

18,.Y A mill havingy in combination ydrivingl and driven members, an intermediate member Vslidab'ly connected therebetween,l and means for sliding said intermediate member WithV respect .to vsaid driving Aand driven members and disconnecting said intermediate member from saiddrivng and driven member, said means including a pdrtion mounted on said intermediate portion, a portion slid-ably supporting: said mounted.niiet-mentioned portion, and another supporting portion. said second-mentioned portion. being v)movably mounted with respect to at least one of said-mentioned portionsl i' 19. In a mill having drivingid drivenmembers, an intermediate member slidably. connected therebetween, and means lfor slidingsaid intermediate member With` respect to said driving and driven members and disconnecting ,said intermediate member from said` dri-ving and rdriven members; said means including a primary and guideway supporting member,a, -secondary andv guidewaymember resiliently suspended in a `transverse position with respect. to said intermediatemember uren Said. primary member.,` ,Seid

primary member being-,slotted vfor cooperatively receiving said seeondarymembenza tertiary member rotatably and non-lslzidablvimeunted on said intermediate member andslidably mounted with respect. to said secondary member.

`20. Ina coupling `layout having driving and drivenk members, and `anintermediate member provided with movable couplings for connecting up said driving and driven members,y the combination of a unit forv moving said intermediate member with respect to saiddrivng andy driven members, saidunit including a primary member of'trough-shape havinga longitudinally slottedout portion nearveach transverse end thereof, a secondary and slide supportmember of troughshapeand clamps adapted to2 bemounted Within .the longitudinally l slottedout `portions of-v said primary member andtosupport said secondary member thereinand a tertiary member for J'Ollrnalling-.said intermediate member, said tertiary member being slidalllel Within said secondary member.... a

21. A rolling mill having in combination driving and dri-ven. membersandrsuitabIe housings therefor, a spindle member 'connecting said driving and vdriven members, and oppostely disposed and spaced bridging memberfdisposed; to extend across from and :between thehousings of said driving and driven members, and means suspended from said bridging members, said means including a member journaling said spindle meinber, and including a member adjustablyV supporting said journaling member.

, -,22.. A rolling mill having in combination driving. and driven members, and suitable housings therefor, a spindle member connecting said driving and `driven members, a` pair of spaced and Hsubstantially,r parallel bridging members disposed to extend. .across and between thev housings of said driving and driven members, lsaid bridging members being "spaced from the oor level of the.` mill,and means carried by. said bridging vriiier'nbers.,forsupporting said spindle member .substantially centrally thereof, `said means including asleeve yportion. journaling said spindle, and a trough portion slidably and adjustably carrying., said sleeve portion substantiall-xr parallel to thefaxial plane of saidspindle member.

f ,'23, In'fa `c'oulliling? layout yhaving driving and driven.,member`s, an intermediate member having movable couplings, for. connecting upsaid drivingand driven members, the combination of unit meansformovingsaid intermediate member with respect` to said driving and. driven members, said, unit including?. a. member journalling said intermediatek membena. member slidably 4supportingsaid journalling member, and a transvers'ely.- extending `shell member receiving said 'journalling and Asaid, slide support members therein, and meanssuspending; said Islide supportmem- .ber from said shelflvmember.

24. A rollingmmillfhaving in combination driving and driven. members. and, suitable housings therefor, aspindle; member-having suitable couplings connecting said driving and driven members,V the .opposite` ends of the housings of said driving and driven members, having slotted brackets extending therefrom, bridging members disposed to. extendbetween saidhousings and to yrest in said slotted brackets, a supporting member foiysaid spindle including parts one of Which is slidable Within the other, said supporting member, being mountedA between said bridging members, andalever mechanism pivotally secured to said` supporting member Vfor.sliding one part male coupling of the associated driving and driven members, each of said bolts having a centrally disposed sleeve adapted to slidewithin the slotted tongue of the said associated driving and driven members, a suitably supported slid' able unit having a bearing portion journaled upon said spindle, and means for sliding said bearing portion, so that said spindle maybe connected and disconnected from said driving and driven members.

- WILLIAM L. DITGES. 

